Bottle carton carrier and unit for use therein



Oct. 27, 1953 R. w. STEVENSON 2,655,947

BOTTLE CARTON CARRIER AND UNIT FOR USE THEIREIN Filed Sept. 28, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet l N M Bram M ATTORNEYS.

Oct. 27, 1953 R. w. STEVENSON 2,656,947

BOTTLE CARTON CARRIER AND UNIT FOR USE THEREIN Filed Sept. 28, 1949 2Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 27, 1953 BOTTLE CARTON CARRIER AND UNIT FOR USE THEREINRalph W. Stevenson, Grand Rapids, Mich., as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Metal Carrier Corporation, GrandRapids, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 28, 1949,Serial No. 118,234

5 Claims.

My invention relates to an improved bottle carton carrier and moreparticularly to an improved bottle carton carrier that can be made froma bottle carrier with a minimum degree of change and a unit for usetherein.

In my copending application U. S. Ser. No. 118,233, filed September 28,1949, entitled Bottle Carrier, I have described and claimed an improvedmetal bottle carrier capable of carrying soft drink bottles withoutdamage to the bottles or the carrier. This carrier has a plurality ofbottle pockets, each adapted to receive a bottle. However, these pocketswill not receive bottle cartons since the cartons are too large to fitinto the pockets.

The bottle carrier of the aforesaid application has many advantages. Itis of metal and thus does not become unsanitary after use. It is lightin weight and easily handled. Nevertheless it is strong and rugged andwithstands long periods of operation, and is inexpensive to construct.

In accordance with the present invention, the metal bottle carrier of myprior patent application is converted to a bottle carton carrier capableof carrying a plurality of cartons of cardboard or the like each ofwhich holds a plurality of bottles. This is accomplished by thesubstitution of a single carton spacer unit that fits in the bottlecarrier to define a plurality of bottle carton pockets and snugly holdsthe bottle cartons in position.

It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide animproved bottle carton carrier.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottled carton carrier that can be constructed from the bottle carrierof the aforesaid patent application.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedunit to convert a bottle carrier to a bottle carton carrier.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improvedbottle carton carrier that cannot catch the sides of the bottle cartonsand thereby tend to tear them as they are removed.

The novel features which I believe to be characteristic of my inventionare set forth with particularity in the appended claims. My invention,itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operationwill best be understood by reference to the following description takenin connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a bottle car-- rier constructed inaccordance with the principles of the present invention and showing abottle carton in phantom;

Figure 2 is a cross-sectional View through the axis 22, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the bottle carton spacers of the presentinvention;

Figure 4.- is a side elevational view of the bottle carton spacer of thepresent invention; and,

Figures 5 and 6 are fragmentary cross-sectional views through axes 5-5and 6-B, Figure 4.

Referring noW to the drawings there is shown in Figure 1 a bottle basketB of the same type as is shown and claimed in my copending patentapplication U. S. Ser. No. 118,233, filed September 28, 1949, entitledBottle Carrier. This basket is formed by a bottom III which is ofsubstantially rectangular shape and the sides l2 surrounding the bottom.As indicated, the sides I2 are wrapped about the reinforcing rod I4 attheir upper edge and about the reinforcing rod l6 at their lower edge.The bottom I0 is secured to the sides I2 by the drawholes I8 where theupturned marginal portion Illa of the bottom is drawn out throughsuitable openings in the sides and turned over about the outer edges ofthe openings to form a snug locking engagement. A pair of hand openings20 are provided at the opposite ends of the bottle basket to permitlifting of the same.

The bottom III of the basket B has a longitudinal upturned segmentalgroove 10b extending along its center. This groove is adapted to receivea locking pin 22, Figure 2. A longitudinal separator 24 has a pluralityof hook portions 24a along its lower edge adapted to mate with and fitinto the spaces between the segments of groove I01) and likewise adaptedto receive the locking pin 22. The pin 22 thereby defines a rockablesupport for the separator 24 and holds the same in position relative tothe bottom Ill.

The foregoing elements are provided in the bottle carrier of theaforesaid patent application. In addition other longitudinal spacerslike the separator 24 are provided to define a plurality of bottlereceiving rows and the entire group of spacers are held in yieldableupright position by the plurality of struts extending transversely ofthe carrier and provided with yieldable rubber sleeves against which theseparators bottom. These struts define individual bottle pockets inconjunction with the separators.

In the manufacture of the aforesaid bottle carriers, the basket B isfirst formed without the central separator 24 or any of the otherseparators.

Referring now to Figure 2, the separator 24 is provided with a rolledover edge or head 24?; along its upper margin. The bottle carton spacerof the present invention is received by this bead and is therebysecurely held in the carrier.

The bottle carton spacer is indicated generally at S. It includes acentrally disposed rib or beam 28 which is of cylindrical shape at itsupper edge to define a neat and smooth appearance. Throughout most ofits length it is of the crosssecticn shown in Figure 5 :and merelyoverlays the upper margin of the separator 24. However, at portions 28a,Figures 2 and 4., the central rib defines a nearly closed slot thatsnugly receives the bead of the separator 24. In these regions thecentral rib 28 opposes relative movement of the separator 24 and thebottle carton spacer and anchors the bottle carton spacer to the basket13.

In addition to the central longitudinal rib 28, the bottle carton spacerS has a plurality of transverse legs 30 and 32. As shown, these legseach extend transversely from the central longitudinal rib 28 and turndown to rest on the bottom Ill. The legs 30 are central legs and act toseparate the bottle carton carriers. They define bottle carton pocketsin conjunction with the basket B and the outer legs 32. Legs 30 fitagainst the bottom of the carrier at points inboard of the sides [2 butvery close to the sides, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The end legs 32are like the central legs but are made somewhat shorter and fit againstthe bottom of the carrier at points further inboard of the sides asshown in Figures 2 and 3. These legs act to space the 'bottle cartonsfrom the ends of the basket B.

As shown in Figure 1, a bottle carton C may be placed in each of thefour pockets defined by bottle carton spacer S.

The bottle carton spacer S performs a dual function. First it supportsthe separator 24 in an upright position. This support is a conse quenceof the engagement of the legs 30 and 32 with the bottom [0 of the basketB. Since the pin 22 secures the separator 24 to the bottom it and thecentral rib 28 secures the spacer Sin fixed relation to the separator24, the spacer S is secured against lifting movements from the basket13. Tilting movements of the spacer are prevented by the legs 30 and 32which each bottom against the bottom of the basket .and cannot .tiltfrom the positions shown.

The bottle carton carrier of the present invention embodies only onepart not embodied in the production bottle carrier shown in theaforesaid patent application. This part is the bottle carton spacer Swhich can conveniently be cast of aluminum or like material. Moreover,the bottle carton carrier can readily be manufactured from thestructures made during the course of manufacture of the regular bottlecarrier. For this purpose it is only necessary to remove the basketportions B (formed during the manufacture of the regular bottlecarriers) and affix to them a bottle carton separator 24.

More specifically, the bottle carton carrier may be manufactured byfirst assembling the separator 24 to the bottle carton spacer S bysliding the separator into the rib 28 of the spacer to anchor the sametherein. The spacer S can then be placed on the basket B with theseparator 24 in registry with the segmental groove 3b as shown in Figure2. The pin 22 is then driven 4 through the aligned groove [0b and thehook portions 24a of the separator 24 to secure the complete unittogether.

When carrying out this operation with the structure illustrated in thedrawing, it will be convenient to attach spacer S in the mannerdescribed to the bottom ID of basket'B prior to the attachment of bottomI0 to sides I2.

The overhanging edge portions 282) of the central rib 28 tend to catchin the side walls of the bottle cartons'and'thereby tend to rip thecartons when they are removed from the bottle carton carrier. Inaccordance with the present invention this diificulty is overcome byproviding a plurality of spaced depending flanges 28c extendingdownwardly from the overhanging edges 28!) to a point below the uppermargins of the bottle spirit and scope of my invention. I thereforeintend by the appended claims to cover all such variations andalternative constructions as fall within the true spirit and scope of myinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

1. An easily assembled non-tearing bottle carton carrier comprising :incombination, a basket having sides and a bottom, said bottom having alongitudinal pin-receiving groove, a separator having an upper marginalbead and a lower pinreceiving hook portion adapted to mate with saidgroove to define a slot for an anchoring pin, an anchoring pin in saidslot, and a carton spacer including a central longitudinal rib having alongitudinal groove in theunderside thereof adapted to receive said beadto anchor said spacer relative to said bottom and transversely extendinglegs extending substantially to the corners of said bottom at a spaceddistance 'thereabove to hold said separator upright, said spacer havingdepending fianges carried by said rib and extending below the uppermargins of the bottle cartons to prevent catching on said rib when saidcartons are removed from said basket,

2. An easily assembled non-tearing bottle carton carrier comprising incombination, a basket having sides and a bottom, said bottom having alongitudinal pin-receiving groove, a separator having an upper marginalbead and a lower pinreceiving hook portion adapted to mate with saidgroove to define a slot for an anchoring pin, an anchoring pin in saidslot, and a carton spacer including a central longitudinal rib having a1ongitudinal groove in the underside thereof adapted toreceive said beadto anchor said spacer relative to said bottom and transversely extendinglegs having the outer end portions thereof fitting against said bottomto hold said separator upright, at least 2 of said legs being positionedintermediate the length of said separator and extending from said ribtoward the sides of said basket at a spaced distance above the bottom ofsaid basket to define bottle carton pockets on each side of saidseparator.

3. An easily assembled bottle carton carrier comprising in combination,a basket having sides and a bottom, said bottom having a longitudinalpin-receiving groove, a separator having an upper marginal bead and alower pin-receiving hook adapted to mate with said groove to define aslot .for an anchoring pin, an anchoring pin in said slot, and a cartonspacer including a central longitudinal rib having a longitudinal groovein the underside thereof adapted to receive said bead to anchor saidspacer relative to said bottom and transversely extending legs restingon said bottom to hold said separator upright, at least 2 of said legsextending from intermediate points on said rib toward opposite sides ofsaid basket for a major portion of the distance from said spacer to saidsides and at a spaced distance above the bottom of said basket toprovide at least 2 carton pockets on each side of said separator.

4. An easily assembled bottle carton carrier comprising in combination,a basket having sides and a bottom, said bottom having a longitudinalpin-receiving groove, a separator having an upper marginal bead and alower pin-receiving hook portion adapted to mate with said groove todefine a slot for an anchoring pin, a pin in said slot, and a cartonspacer including a central longitudinal rib having a longitudinal groovein the underside thereof adapted to receive said bead to anchor saidspacer relative to said bottom and transversely extending legs extendingsubstantially to the corners of said bottom to hold said separatorupright said spacer also having at least 2 legs extending fromintermediate points on said rib toward opposite sides of said basket fora major portion of the distance from said spacer to said sides and at aspaced distance above the bottom of said basket to provide at least 2carton pockets on each side of said separator.

5. A non-tearing unit to convert to a bottle carton carrier a bottlecarrier of the type having sides and a bottom and a separator rockablyanchored to said bottom and having an upper marginal bead, said unitcomprising a carton spacer including a central longitudinal rib having alongitudinal groove in the underside thereof adapted to receive saidbead to anchor said spacer relative to said bottom and longitudinallyspaced laterally extending legs for engagement with the bottom of saidbasket to define bottle pockets and hold said separator upright, atleast 2 of said legs extending in opposite directions from anintermediate point on said rib at the level of the top portion of saidspacer for the major portion of the distance from said spacer to thesides of said bottle carrier when said unit is pushed therein to provideat least 2 carton pockets on each side of said separator said spacerhaving depending flanges adjacent said separator and extending below theupper margins of the bottle cartons to prevent catching thereon.

RALPH W. STEVENSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,081,674 Klenk Dec. 16, 1913 1,279,083 Clark Sept. 17, 19181,326,003 Spohr Dec. 23, 1919 1,470,898 Webb Oct. 16, 1923 1,711,030Pifer Apr. :30, 1929 2,145,106 Anderson Jan. 24, 1939 2,346,205 BowmanApr. 11, 1944

